The daughter of an imam in the West African nation of Guinea-Bissau made her first profession of vows as a Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Spirit, during a Mass celebrated on August 15 by a bishop emeritus.
Sister Aicha Settimia Canté’s profession of temporary vows “attracted offensive comments, personal attacks and hate speech on social media, particularly because of her father’s identity as an imam and her decision to embrace Catholic Religious life,” ACI Africa reported.
The National Confederation of Islamic Youth came to Sister Canté’s defense: the organization stated that there is “no compulsion in religion” and expressed “deep concern over the wave of offensive comments, personal attacks and hate speech.”
Guinea-Bissau, a nation of 2.2 million (map), is 46% Muslim, 40% ethnic religionist, and 13% Christian (9% Catholic).